Ground cover rose plant named `Flower Carpet White`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of ground cover rose plant is provided which forms continuously throughout the season attractive long-lasting pure white blossoms. The new variety exhibits a compact and spreading growth habit that renders it suitable for growing as an ornamental ground cover in the landscape. The foliage is dark green and glossy and contrasts well with the pure white blossoms. Reproductive organs and pollen provide a generally yellow coloration at the center of each fully open blossom. The pure white blossom coloration is well retained upon the aging of the blossoms, and petals drop off cleanly as the blossoms mature. The new variety also propagates well from cuttings, by the budding of an eye, and by grafting, and exhibits an excellent resistance to blackspot, mildew, and rust.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of ground cover rose plant of the present invention wascreated by artificial pollination wherein two parents were crossed whichpreviously had been studied in the hope that they would contribute thedesired charcteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) wasthe `Flower Carpet` variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,282) which sometimesis known as the `Noatraum` variety. The `Flower Carpet` variety ismarketed under the Heidetraum trademark in Germany, and possesses deeppink blossoms. The male parent (i.e., the pollen parent) `MargaretMerril` variety (non-patented in the United States) which is aFloribunda variety possessing white blossoms. The `Margaret Merril`variety sometimes is known as the `Harkuly` variety. The parentage ofthe new variety can be summarized as follows:

    `Flower Carpet`×`Margaret Merril`.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and smallplants were obtained which physically and biologically differ from eachother. Selective study resulted in the identification of a single plantof the new variety.

It is found that the new ground cover rose plant possesses the followingcombination of characteristics:

(a) forms attractive pure white, long-lasting blossoms substantiallythroughout the season that well retain their original coloration uponaging,

(b) exhibits a compact and spreading growth habit,

(c) forms attractive dark green and glossy foliage that contrasts wellwith the pure white blossoms,

(d) exhibits excellent disease resistance with respect to blackspot,mildew, and rust, and

(e) is particularly suited for growing as attractive ornamentation inthe landscape.

Reproductive organs and pollen provide a generally yellow coloration atthe center of each fully open blossom.

The new variety meets the needs of the horticultural industry and can begrown to advantage as attractive ornamentation in parks, gardens, publicareas, and residential landscapes.

The new variety of the present invention has been found to readilyundergo asexual reproduction in Germany by the use of cuttings, by thebudding of an eye, and by grafting. Such asexual reproduction asperformed in Germany has shown that the characteristics of the newvariety are homogeneous and stable and are strictly transmissible fromone generation to another.

The new variety has been named the `Flower Carpet White` variety. Thenew variety also is known as the `Noaschnee` variety in Europe and isbeing marketed under the Schneeflocke trademark in Europe.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same, in color illustrations of this character,typical specimens of the new variety while growing in the landscape. Theillustrated rose plants were three years of age and were observed duringJuly while growing outdoors on `Pfanders` understock at Gutersloh,Germany.

FIG. 1 illustrates a profusion of blossoms and the foliage of the newvariety wherein the buds and blossoms are visible in various stages ofopening and the good petal drop character of the new variety is visibleas the blossoms mature; and

FIG. 2 illustrate buds, blossoms, and foliage of the new variety ingreater detail that as illustrated in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart) of London, England. Colorterminology in common terms sometimes is included as an aid to thereader. The description is based on the observation of three year-oldspecimens of the new variety while growing outdoors on `Pfanders`understock during June and July at Gutersloh, Germany.

Class: Ground Cover.

Parentage:

Female.--`Flower Carpet` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,282).

Male.--`Margaret Merril` (non-patented in the United States).

Plant:

Height.--Approximately 50 cm. on average at the end of the growingseason.

Form.--Compact and spreading, and creates an excellent ground cover.

Branches:

Color.--Young stems: light green, and with a smooth surface. Adult wood:medium green and with a smooth surface.

Thorns.--Size: medium, approximately 5 mm. in length on average, andslightly curved downward. Frequency: irrgular. Color: initially lightbrown changing to dark brown with maturity.

Leaves:

Stipules.--Light green in coloration.

Leaflets.--Number: commonly 5 to 7. Quantity: very abundant. Size:medium. Serration: simple. Color (young foliage): Upper surface: bronzeas illustrated in FIG. 2. Under surface: slightly lighter than uppersurface. Color (adult foliage): Upper surface: dark green and glossy asillustrated in FIG. 2. Under surface: slightly lighter than uppersurface and matte. General appearance: dense, dark green, and glossy.Texture: leathery.

Inflorescence:

Number of flowers.--Numerous and commonly in clusters.

Peduncle.--Light green in coloration, short in length, relativelystrong, and commonly crooked.

Sepals.--Commonly extend beyond the bud and are pointed.

Buds.--Shape: rounded as illustrated in FIG. 2. Length: approximately 3cm. on average. Size: medium. Color when opening: Upper surface: White,White Group 155B. Under surface: White, White Group 155B.

Flower.--Form: initially cup-shaped with flattening upon maturity.Diameter: approximately 6 cm. on average. Color (when opening begins):Upper surface: White, White Group 155B. Under surface: White, WhiteGroup 155B. Color (when blooming): Upper surface: White, White Group155B. Under surface: White, White Group 155B. Color (at end of opening):Upper surface: White, White Group 155B. Under surface: White, WhiteGroup 155B. Fragrance: slight. Lasting quality: long on plant. Petalform: outer petals tend to have wavy edges (as illustrated), the innerpetals commonly have edges that are slightly bent. Petaloids: commonlynone. Petal number: approximately 16 on average. Petal arrangement:generally arranged in a regular pattern with overlapping edges. Petaldrop: good with a clean disengagement of the petals. Stamens:approximately 60 on average, and regularly arranged around the styles.Filaments: nearly transparent in appearance. Pistils: commonly only one.Stigmas: cream yellow in coloration. Styles: thin, bunched, and tend tobe of substantially the same length. Hips: small and orange-yellow incoloration.

Development:

Vegetation.--Strong.

Blooming.--Abundant and substantially continuous throughout the season.

Aptitude to bear fruits.--Good.

Winter hardiness.--Good.

Resistance to diseases.--Excellent with respect to blackspot, mildew,and rust.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of ground cover rose plantcharacterized by the following combination of characteristics:(a) formsattractive pure white, long-lasting blossoms substantially throughoutthe season that well retain their original coloration upon aging, (b)exhibits a compact and spreading growth habit, (c) forms attractive darkgreen and glossy foliage that contrasts well with the pure whiteblossoms, (d) exhibits excellent disease resistance with respect toblackspot, mildew, and rust, and (e) is particularly suited for growingas attractive ornamentation in the landscape;substantially as hereinshown and described.